Does Music Matter? Examining Genre and Tempo in Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Floor Routines

This study investigated whether the genre and tempo of floor music influenced performance outcomes in NCAA Division I women’s gymnastics. Floor exercise is the only gymnastics event performed to music, introducing an artistic component that may contribute to subjective scoring variation. Using data from 376 gymnasts across 62 programs during the 2023–2024 season, the researchers analyzed National Qualifying Scores (NQS), music genres, and beats per minute (BPM) obtained from publicly available competition videos. Thirteen music genres met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Descriptive comparisons showed that R&B, Latin/electronic dance, and jazz/electronic dance were associated with the highest mean NQS; however, overall differences across genres were minimal. A Pearson correlation indicated no significant relationship between BPM and NQS, and scores remained consistent across BPM quartiles. These findings suggested that while genre and tempo may enhance performance elements such as rhythm, emotional expression, or motivation, they did not independently predict higher floor scores. The results underscored the strategic importance of music selection in choreography and presentation, particularly in a sport where judging is subjective, and outcomes are often determined by small score differentials.

Keywords: Athlete Performance, Gymnastics, Music Genre, Performance Scoring, Tempo.